Canada Conducts Clean Energy Trade Mission to Mainland China

Canadian National Resources Minister Jim Carr recently led a successful trade mission to mainland China aimed at showcasing and promoting Canadian softwood lumber, energy efficiency standards and clean technologies. Among other activities, Minister Carr visited the Sino-Canadian low-carbon eco-district in Tianjin, which uses Canadian lumber, technology and know-how to help mainland China address climate challenges. Minister Carr participated in the official launch of the eco-district site and presented certificates recognising the district’s first Super E town home built using Canadian lumber and clean technologies.

According to a press release issued by the Canadian government, the CA$2.5­billion eco­district project showcases Canada’s unique expertise in wood­frame construction and energy efficient technologies, which contribute to carbon sequestration and reduce emissions while enhancing energy efficiency. About 100 town homes will be built in the Tianjin low­carbon eco-district to the Super E energy efficiency standard, which was developed by Natural Resources Canada. Already used successfully in homes in Canada, Europe and Asia, the Tianjin eco­district project will be the first large­scale deployment of this standard worldwide. Canadian wood will be used in innovative ways (e.g., in­fill wood walls) in commercial mid­rise buildings that will be constructed at the Tianjin site.

Minister Carr and Vice Minister of Housing and Urban­Rural Development Yi Jun also renewed a memorandum of understanding to support the development of eco­cities, which will promote the use of wood in construction and Canadian energy efficiency technologies to further green building in the mainland. Additionally, Minister Carr held successful meetings with mainland Chinese ministerial counterparts, business leaders and investors to promote opportunities for Canada’s wealth of natural resources and innovative, low­carbon clean technologies to support mainland China’s vision of clean economic growth. To strengthen partnerships of collaboration with Beijing, Minister Carr also signed four memoranda of understanding with his mainland Chinese counterparts. Moreover, he discussed the early accomplishments of the Canada–China Clean Technology Working Group in fostering and growing the clean technology sectors of both economies to fuel the low­carbon future.

Canadian authorities indicate that the mission generated new business while successfully promoting the great opportunities Canada has to offer mainland Chinese companies, with an emphasis on fostering clean technologies and renewables, Canada's business­friendly environment, and its diverse, highly educated and skilled workforce.